Insulator and the like



1942- E. H. KENDALL INSULATOR AND THE LIKE Filed May 19, 1959 PatentedAug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to insulators for use in supporting electricalconductors and particularly to an insulator arranged to have asupporting wood screw attached thereto at the time the insulator is tobe mounted.

Insulators for supporting electrical wires in one manner or another arecommonly provided with a lag screw or the like permanently securedthereto, and the combination is secured to a wood support by graspingthe insulator with some suitable tool and rotating the same to screwinto the wood. This practice is unsatisfactory not only for the reasonthat the strain placed on the insulator frequently results in breakingthe same, but also due to the fact that as different length lag screwsare required, it is necessary to maintain a stock of insulator and lagscrew combinations in a great many classifications to assure that theproper type of insulator and lag screw will at all times be available.According to the present invention, these disadvantages are overcome byproviding an insulator, the lag screw for which is stocked separatelyand is connected to the insulator at the time the insulator is mountedat a job. According to the invention, a lag screw of the desired lengthis screwed into the support by applying a wrench directly to its head.It is then backed oiT slightly and the insulator attached. To firmlyconnect the insulator to the support, it is then only necessary torotate the insulator to turn the lag screw a slight amount to seat theinsulator firmly against its support and have it held rigidly there bythe lag screw.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an insulatorarranged to have a lag screw connected thereto at the time the insulatoris to be mounted on the job.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of mountinginsulators which comprises first securing a screw to the insulatorsupport and then connecting the insulator to the screw.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insulator having ametallic insert for connection to a lag screw head.

These and other objects will be apparent from the followingspecification when taken with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1is a side elevation of an insulator having a lag screw assembled theretoin accordance with one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIII of Fig. 1,

Fig, 3 is a perspective view of a removable insert employed in theconstruction of Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of another form of the inventionparticularly adaptable to glass insulators,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the metallic insert employed in the formof the invention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference character Iindicates an insulator body in the form of a wire holder. It will beunderstood, of course, that the invention may be employed in associationwith other forms of insulators and wire holders. Accordingly, the formof insulator disclosed in the drawing is only for the purpose ofdisclosure. The form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 isparticularly adaptable to insulators constructed of porcelain or otherceramic material. Extending entirely through the body I of the insulatoradjacent the base portion 2, is a transverse slot 3, similar incross-section to the cross-section of the head 4 of the lag screw 5,adapted to be associated with the body I, and as shown particularly inFig. 2 wherein the head 4 of the lag screw 5 is shown as disposed withinthe slot 3. The head 4 is disposed in the slot 3 by passing it through apassage 6 communicating with the base of the body I and with the slot 3.The passage 6 is of sufficient size to permit the passage of the head 4.

In order to secure the head 4 of the lag screw 5 within the body I, ametallic clip 1 shown particularly in Fig. 3 is provided. The clip I isof sheet metal and preferably is slightly resilient. It is generallytubular in form and is arranged to slidably fit into the slot 3. At thelower side of the clip I is provided a longitudinal opening 8 forpermitting the passage of the shank of the lag screw 5 as the clip 1 ismoved into the slot 3. The opening 8 has a tapered portion 9 at one endthereof for guiding the shank of the lag screw 5 thereinto, and at itsmidportion is provided with an enlarged portion If] for receiving theshank of the lag screw 5. The width of the opening 8, except at thetapered portion 9, is slightly less than the shank of the lag screw 5 sothat in moving the clip I through the slot 3 the sides of the clip 'Iare urged apart, when in engagement with the shank of the lag screw 5.When the enlarged portion [0 of the opening 8 reaches the shank of thelag screw 5, the sides of the clip 1 contract inwardly to resilientlylock the clip I to the lag screw 5, for the purpose of preventingaccidental removal thereof.

In mounting an insulator according to the present invention, the lagscrew 5 is screwed into a support, usually of wood, by applying a wrenchto the head 4. The distance that the lag screw 5 is screwed into thesupport depends on the exact type of insulator to be mounted, but ineach case it will be a'distance such that the head 4 projects from thesupport a distance slightly less than the distance which the head 4 willproject when in finally assembled relation with the insulator. The lagscrew 5 is then backed out, by employing a wrench on the head 4, arelatively short distance. The insulator body I is then placed over thehead 4 in such a manner as to pass the head 4 through the passage 6 andinto the slot 3. The clip I is moved through the slot 3 until the shankof the lag screw 5 registers with the enlargement Ill in the opening 8of the clip I. In this position the head 4 is maintained 7 againstwithdrawa1 and rotation by the clip 7.

The final step is to rotate the body I either by hand or by means of asuitable wrench to turn the lag screw 5 back into its support until thebase 2 of the body I is firmly against the support. The insulator body Iis then ready for use.

The form of my invention disclosed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is particularlyadapted for association With a glass insulator or an insulator of somematerial wherein, for practical production reasons, it is not feasibleor possible to provide a slot 3 as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. In thisform of the invention, the body I5 is formed with a metallic insert I 6therein. The insert I6 is somewhat in the form of a box having ananchoring flange I1 and is provided at one side thereof with a keyholeslot I8. The side of the insert I5 having the keyhole slot I8 is flushwith the base I9 of the body I5. The keyhole slot I8 is provided with anenlarged portion 20 of sufficient size to receive the head 2| of a lagscrew 22 The restricted part 23 of the keyhole slot I8 is of such a sizeas to receive th shank of the lag screw 22 but to prevent downwardpassage of the head 2!. At the juncture of the portion 2!] and 25 of thekeyhole slot I3, there are provided upwardly projecting flanges 24 forlaterally supporting the head ZI f the lag screw 22 against movementtoward the enlarged opening 29. As shown particularly in Fig. 4, therelative heights of the insert it and of the flanges 24 are such as topermit the head 2| to pass over the flanges 24 when the lag screw 22 isbeing assembled with the body I5. The size of the insert I6 and thelocation of the flanges 24 are such as to maintain the head 2i againstrotation when within the insert I6 and in the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 4.

The broad method of mounting an insulator according to the form of theinvention disclosed in Figs. 4, and 6 is the same as that for the formof the invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The lag screw 22 isscrewed into the support as of wood, or the like, by a suitable wrenchapplied to the head 2|. In the form or the invention disclosed in Figs.4, 5 and 6, however, it will be necessary to dispose the lag screw 22much further into its support than in the first case for the reason thatthe distance from the final assembled position of the head 2| to thesupport is much less than it was in the first case The lag screw 22 willhave to be screwed substantially all of the way into its support. It isthen backed off a sufficient distance topermit th head 2| to clear theflanges 24 when the body I5 is disposed over the head 2I in such amanner as to pass the head 2I through the portion 20 of the keyhole slotI8. The body I5 is then moved laterally to dispose the head 2| behindthe flange 24 in the position shown in Fig. 4. Rotation of the body I5by hand or by a suitable wrench i then all that is necessary to screwthe lag screw 22 back into its support to clamp the body I5 against thesupport, and to make the insulator ready for use.

It will be apparent that in both forms illustrated of the invention, thestrain placed upon the insulator in order to screw it tightly againstthe support to which it is secured is minimal due to the fact that thelag screw has already been screwed sufiiciently far into the support toprovide the threaded hole for the lag screw. Accordingly, when theinsulator is turned the lag screw is only screwed into a threaded holewhich itself has previously made. Furthermore, it will be evident thatit will be possible to keep separately a stock of insulators and lagscrews of the Various types and sizes desired and in that manner avoid alarge number of classifications of lag screw and insulator combinations.While the present invention has referred to lag screws, it will ofcourse be understood that the equivalent of lag screws may be employedin any case where desired without departing from the scope of theclaims. Accordingly, it is intended that the term lag screw in theclaims be considered as suiflciently broad to include any suitable screwemployable for attaching insulators to a support.

The two forms of th invention disclosed are both considered to bedesirable but it will be understood that other forms within the scope ofthe invention may be employed. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limitedexcept by the scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. An insulator or the like of the character described comprising a bodyprovided with a recess and a passage communicating with said recess, acasing in said recess for attachment to a securing element having ahead, said element being adapted to be arranged in a supportingstructure, said passage being for permitting the passage of said headinto said recess for locking said head against rotation and againstwithdrawal from said recess said casing being arranged to receive saidhead after said element is substantially arranged in said supportingstructure.

2. In a device of the character described, a body provided with a recessand an opening communicating with said recess, for attaohment'to asecuring element having a head, said opening being for permitting thepassage of said head into said recess, and a removable resilient headembracing casing within said recess for locking said head againstrotation and against withdrawal from said recess.

3. In a device of the character described, a body provided with atransverse recess and having an opening communicating with said recess,for attachment to a securing element having a head, said opening beingfor permitting the passage of said head into said recess, and a headembracing casing slidable in said recess arranged to receive said headwhen disposed through said opening into said slot, for locking the sameagainst rotation and against withdrawal from said body.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein the clip comprises amember tubular in form, having a longitudinal opening along one sidethereof for permitting the relative passage of said element, while thehead of said element moves relatively within said member.

5. An insulator or the like of the character described comprising, abody provided with a recess in one side thereof, for attachment to asecuring element having a head, an insert in said recess, said inserthaving one side thereof adjacent the side of said body in which saidrecess is disposed, said last named side of said insert having a keyholeslot therein for permitting the pas-- sage of said head into saidrecess, and upon relative lateral movement between said head and saidbody for preventing removal of said head from said insert, said insertalso being restricted for preventing relative rotation between said headand said body.

6. An insulator or the like of the character clescribed comprising, aninsert, said insert having on one side thereof a keyhole slot, the sideof the insert having the keyhole slot being adapted to be disposedsubstantially flush with one face of the insulator or the like, saidkeyhole slot being arranged to receive the head of a securing elementand having a relatively enlarged opening through which the head of thesecuring element is adapted to initially pass, and a restricted openingfor retaining the head of the securing element against outward movement,and flange means disposed between said enlarged and restricted openings,for restricting the head of the securing element against movement fromrelation with said small opening toward said enlarged opening. 7. A clipof the character described comprising a member generally tubular inform, having a longitudinal opening along one side thereof, said openingbeing flared at one end to provide easy access, and having intermediatethe ends thereof an enlarged seating portion connected to the flaredportion of an opening of restricted size.

8. In combination, a portable rotatable body provided with a recess anda passage communicating with said recess, and a relatively fixed bodyhaving a screw therein, said screw having a head and being screwablewith respect to said body, said passage being for permitting passage ofsaid head into said recess, said rotatable body having a casing in saidrecess for locking said head against rotation and against withdrawalfrom said recess, whereby said screw may be threadably disposed in saidrelatively fixed body a predetermined relation thereto independent- 15of said relatively rotatable body and said relatively rotatable bodydetachably secured to said head and rotated to rotate said screw to drawsaid relatively rotatable body against said relatively fixed body.

9. In combination, a portable rotatable body provided with a recess inone side thereof, and a relatively fixed body having a screw therein,said screw having a head and being screwable with respect to said body,said recess having an insert therein, said insert having one sidethereof adjacent the side of said relatively rotatable body in whichsaid recess is disposed, said last named side of said insert having akeyhole slot therein for permitting the passage of said head into saidrecess, and upon relative lateral movement between said head and saidbody for preventing removal of said head from said recess, said insertalso restricted for preventing relative r0- tation between said head andsaid body, whereby said screw may be threadably disposed in saidrelatively fixed body in a predetermined relation thereto independentlyof said relatively rotatable body and said relatively rotatable bodydetachably secured to said head and rotated to rotate said screw to drawsaid relatively rotatable body against said relatively fixed body.

EARL H. KENDALL.

